Collection Seminar: Thursday June 6, 2013

UPCOMING COLLECTION SEMINAR
will be recorded and available by CD

We are pleased to announce a full day of discussion on collecting money from your delinquent accounts.

This seminar is geared for attorneys and is based upon written materials submitted by the speakers and my book, Handling the Collection Case in Michigan.

Handling the Collection Case in Michigan, a detailed analysis of a collection case.

The seminar, organized by the Michigan Institute for Continuing Legal Education, is a detailed look at many of the key collection topics, as per the day's agenda, printed below, and will be held at the beautiful INN AT ST. JOHN'S in Plymouth, MI on Thursday, June 6, 2013 (and available on CD thereafter).

Topics for the day:

Creditors’ Rights 2013

(subject to any changes in topics or speakers)

Thursday, June 6, 2013

The Inn at St. John’s, Plymouth

Course Schedule

Moderator

Steven A. Harms

Muller Muller Richmond Harms & Myers PC

Birmingham

Morning Session:

9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

The collection case from beginning to end, a complete discussion on the topics involved from negotiation before suit, right up through post judgment collection.

Steven A. Harms and other speakers
Afternoon Session:

1:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.



1:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. How to Use a Garnishment Effectively

• Practical tips for using garnishments effectively

• The new 180-day rule

• Using garnishment in insurance claims (e.g. fire)

• Thinking beyond banks and wages- garnishing accounts receivable, lottery winnings, state of Michigan income tax refunds, insurance proceeds, rent income (rent payments), and more

• Exceptions to garnishments: pension plans, child support, 401k, IRAs, etc.

• Priority writs that affect your garnishment



Daniel E. Best

Weltman Weinberg & Reis Co LPA

Troy



2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. The Nuts and Bolts of Asset Seizures (Execution Writs)

• Process overview- how to get an order to seize property

• Elements of an execution writ (and what forms to use)

• Teamwork: court officer and attorney collaboration in asset seizures

• The attorney’s role in information gathering for effective asset seizures

• Court officer fees



Steven A. Harms

Muller Muller Richmond Harms & Myers PC

Birmingham



Jeff Kirkpatrick

Court Services Agency

Jackson



3:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. Questions and Answers



3:15 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Networking Break



3:30 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. Tips, Tricks, Traps and Trouble: Collecting Money and Avoiding Consumer Claims



• Caselaw update: Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, Michigan Collection Practices Act, Fair Credit Reporting, and more

• Latest filing trends and fact patterns

• Best practices for collection law firms



Charity A. Olson

Olson Law Group

Ann Arbor



4:15 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. A Court’s Perspective on Attorney Fees and Costs

• New cases on attorney fees and costs

• Attorney fees as part of contract

• What "reasonable attorney fees" means

• Is a contingency fee a "reasonable attorney fee"?

• Chargeable costs



Hon. Dennis C. Drury

52nd District Court

Troy





4:45 p.m. – 5:15 p.m. Skip Tracing: Uncovering Debtors and Hidden Assets

 Using subpoenas, credit reports, Internet resources, and public records together to locate assets

 Skip tracing practice tips and advice

 A practical approach to working with debtors

 Commercial versus consumer skip tracing; constraints of FDCPA

 Real property skip tracing

 Skip tracing check sheet and its importance when conducting a creditor’s examination










5:15 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Questions and Answers



Adjourn